Marine biologist Ken Whelan tells us about his amazing trip around Chinese waters, and the abundance of whales and dolphins of the south-west coast of Ireland. Daragh Muldowney tells us about photographing rockpools for his new book Jewellery Box: Ireland's Hidden Gems. Derek Gow examines the feasibility (or otherwise!) of reintroducing beavers into Irish rivers. And a unique approach to haute couture: Jess Eaton tells us about fashion clothing made from roadkill!

Ken Whelan On China

Mooney Goes Wild's resident marine biologist, Ken Whelan, has been on his travels since we last spoke to him - he has just returned from a trip to China studying “novel techniques in closed containment aquaculture”. He joins Marty in studio today to chat about what he discovered...

A recent visit to China has convinced me that issues surrounding the management, allocation and harvesting of the earth’s aquatic resources may well prove the most important and urgent environmental challenge facing mankind.

For years, environmental campaigner Maude Barlow has campaigned ceaselessly to convince the Canadian Government that all citizens have a basic human right to water and sanitation. After years of national and international pressure, the Canadian Government finally signalled in May of this year that it was prepared to recognise this right.

To find out more, download the Mooney app, for iPhone and Android phones, to read the rest of Ken's article, and much more!

Jewellery Box – Ireland’s Hidden Gems

Daragh Muldowney of Dulra photography has recently returned to Ireland from a whirlwind six week tour of the USA, where he successfully exhibited his collection of photographs of rock pools called Jewellery Box – Ireland’s Hidden Gems.

The images in the book include anenomes, limpets, barnicles, seaweeds, shells and sand formations. Daragh joins Marty in studio to chat about photographing rock pools...

Jewellery Box – Ireland’s Hidden Gems hardback book and photographs are available to purchase on line at: www.dulra.com. The book is also available at any good bookstore in Ireland. Daragh will be exhibiting at the National Craft & Design Fair, RDS, Dublin 5th - 9th of December.

Competition Time!

Daragh has very kindly given us three copies to give away to you, our listeners! We're going to ask you a question, and the first three people to contact us with the correct answer will win a copy!

So the question is:

The wife and muse of James Joyce had a fishy sounding name! What was it? And we want her full name - first and second names please!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you to all who entered - the first three correct winning entries, who answered with 'Nora Barnacle', were from Breda Kelleher from Cork,
Bridie O’Shea from Kerry
and Louise Kidney, also from Cork - congratulations, and enjoy Jewellery Box – Ireland’s Hidden Gems!

Should Beavers Be Introduced To Ireland?

Watching beavers arrange themselves into a team of dam-builders is a truly wondrous thing. They appoint a foreman and can build as much as a metre and a half of dam each day, not stopping til they have completely blocked the river.
In the fact the longest recorded dam stood at one and a half kilometres!

Wild beavers were reintroduced to Argyll in Scotland in 2009, after 400 years of extinction, in the hope that they can improve the water systems there.
We have never had them in Ireland - but would they be a good addition?
We discuss today!

Fashion Roadkill

The talent show The Voice in America featured one of Mooney Goes Wild’s favourite all-time songs this week: It's Not Easy Being Green.
Well “being green” is one of the lessons that Mooney Goes Wild has tried to preach over the last SEVENTEEN years we’ve been on-air.
Re-using and re-cycling are dear to our hearts.

But what if Kermit the Frog himself were to pass away, or die in an accident (God Forbid!) – would it be ok to ‘recycle’ Kermit?
Today we chat about taking animals that have died in accidents or of natural causes and re-using their parts.
Conceptual Artist and “Fashion Roadkill Designer” Jess Eaton is in the BBC studio in Brighton - she’s also the co-owner of the Eaton-Nott shop in Brighton - and she chats roadkill fashion with Marty today...

Bewley's Christmas Competition -
Put Your Feet Up This Christmas!

Do you love Christmas dinner with the family, but hate the thought of all that scrubbing, peeling, stuffing ... not to mention all the piles of washing up afterwards! Ever wished that the magic fairy would just come and take away all the stress and hassle of making Christmas lunch, letting you concentrate on just relaxing and enjoying the meal? Well, this Christmas, let Mooney and Bewley's Hotels make your Christmas wish come true! We have the most fabulous competition for one lucky family - and all we want you to do is to tell us why you deserve to be our special winning family!

Not only will our winning family win their Christmas dinner at the stunning Bewley's hotel in Ballsbridge, their prize will also include three nights' accommodation for all the family (two adults and up to three children) on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day, breakfast on the three mornings, a 3-course dinner on Christmas Eve and St. Stephens's Day, a €100 One4All shopping voucher for each family member, and tickets to one of several great family activities (choosing one of the following: Leopardstown Races, Funderland, Iskate at the RDS, tickets for A Family Christmas Show).

The full 3-Night Christmas Break Itinerary is as follows:

Christmas Eve...

Welcome reception in The Lounge with mulled wine and mince pies. Served between 3pm-6pm

3 course dinner in The Brasserie

Retire to Tom’s Bar or enjoy midnight mass at any of the local churches

Time for bed… snuggle up under the luxurious Egyptian cotton duvets

Christmas Day...

Leisurely buffet breakfast in The Brasserie followed by Santa’s big arrival with a gift for all of our little
guests!

Cinema room available for children showing a selection of the best Christmas children movies

Mulled wine reception before lunch

Christmas Day Dinner - Join the festive atmosphere in The Brasserie and soak up
the scents of Christmas cooking. A half bottle of wine per guest is also included

After lunch snuggle up on the big arm chairs in The Brasserie or take a stroll in Herbert Park

Informal buffet supper served in The Brasserie for those feeling a bit peckish!

St Stephen’s Day...

Traditional breakfast or brunch served in The Brasserie between 8-12pm

Take a stroll in to Dublin City Centre and catch the first day of the sales... Shop ‘till you drop!

3 course meal served in The Brasserie from 7pm

Relax in The Lounge or take a trip to Dublin’s City Centre for some late night cheer

December 27th

Full Irish breakfast in The Brasserie

Late check-out available upon request

Depart from the hotel with fond memories of a delightful Christmas

What you need to do:

E-mail mooney@rte.ie or write to us (Mooney, RTÉ Radio Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4), and tell us why you - or someone you love - deserves to have the Christmas you deserve, but with none of the stress associated with it - why do you deserve a little extra TLC and pampering this Christmas? You'll have to hurry though, as entries must be received by 6pm on Friday, December 7th. Don't forget your contact details!! If you would like more details about this offer, and all the other great deals that Bewley's have this Christmas, visit www.bewleyshotels.com/ballsbridge/christmas.

Mooney Tunes

Mooney Tunes 7 will take place in the National Concert Hall on December 18th. The show will start at 8 PM, as usual. This concert has already sold out. In fact, it actually sold out on the day Derek announced it, a couple of weeks ago.
HOWEVER, we are still looking for suggestions for this concert - pieces of music that you would like included. We've had quite a few e-mails already, but we are always open to hearing new stories, and inventive musical suggestions.

Because of the extraordinary demand for tickets, we've decided to organise a separate concert for the afternoon of the same day, December 18th. A full matinee concert, with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and selected performers.

It's going to be a different concert from the evening show, with a different selection of music, and it's going to be just the thing for anybody doing their Christmas shopping in the morning time, in Dublin city centre, and who fancies a fabulous musical diversion in the afternoon!

We will be selecting a different program for the afternoon show. Different from the evening show. There might be a couple of pieces in common, but by and large, distinctive shows.

Send us in your choice of music, and why you would like it to be included, to mooney@rte.ie or to:

Mooney
RTÉ Radio Centre
Donnybrook
Dublin 4

The Island Landscape

RTÉ Television, in association with Mooney, is currently producing a major new documentary series on the history of the Irish landscape. The series will tell the story of how our landscape was created after the last major climatic event – the end of the last Ice Age, over ten thousand years ago.
And we want your help! Would you like to contribute video towards the TV series? Click here to find out what we're looking for!